excuse
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excuse
- /ɪkˈskjuːz/ UK
- /ɛksˈkjuːz/ UK
- /ɪksˈkjuz/ US
- /ɛksˈkjuz/ US
- /ɪkˈskjuːs/ UK
- /ɛksˈkjuːs/ UK
- /ɪksˈkjus/ US
- /ɛksˈkjus/ US
Rhymes with -uːz, -uːs
Where it comes from
From Middle English excusen (verb) and excuse (noun), borrowed from Old French escuser (verb) and excuse (noun), from Latin excūsō, excūsāre (“to excuse, allege in excuse, literally, free from a charge”), from ex (“out”) + causa (“a charge”); see cause, accuse and recuse. Displaced native Old English lād (“an excuse”) and lādian (“to excuse”).
verb excuses · excusing · excused
- To forgive; to pardon; to overlook. I excused him his transgressions.
-
To allow to leave, or release from any obligation.
May I be excused from the table?
Similar: forgive, let off the hook, let pass, pardon, unguilt
- To provide an excuse for; to justify. You know he shouldn't have done it, so don't try to excuse his behavior!
- To relieve of an imputation by apology or defense; to make apology for as not seriously evil; to ask pardon or indulgence for. Agayne / thynke ye that we excuſe oure ſelves? we ſpeake in Chriſt in the ſight of God. But we do all thyngꝭ dearly beloved for youre edifyinge.
noun excuses
-
An explanation designed to avoid or alleviate guilt or negative judgment; a plea offered in extenuation of a fault.
Tell me why you were late – and I don't want to hear any excuses!
Similar: cop-out, pretext release, clear, justify, forgive, tolerate, overlook, exempt, pardon, discharge, pretext, bear with
- A defense to a criminal or civil charge wherein the accused party admits to doing acts for which legal consequences would normally be appropriate, but asserts that special circumstances relieve that party of culpability for having done those acts.
- An example of something that is substandard or of inferior quality. That thing is a poor excuse for a gingerbread man. Hasn't anyone taught you how to bake?
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: pardon, condone, apologize, beg off, alibi, justify, relieve, self-justification, explain, rationalize, let off, exempt, apologise, forgive, forgiveness, apology
Translations
Every language
verb forgive, pardon
| Español | excusar, perdonar |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 용서하다 yongseohada |
| 日本語 | 許す yurusu |
| 中文 | 原諒 /原谅 yuánliàng |
| Português | desculpar, perdoar |
| Français | excuser, pardonner |
| Deutsch | entschuldigen, verzeihen |
| Italiano | scusare, perdonare |
| Ελληνικά | συγχωρώ synchoró |
| Română | scuza |
| Русский | извиня́ть izvinjátʹ, извини́ть pf проща́ть izvinítʹ, прости́ть prostítʹ |
| العربية | عَذَرَ ʕaḏara |
| עברית | מחל makhál, סלח salákh |
verb allow to leave
| 日本語 | 言い訳をする iiwake o suru |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 請求離開 /请求离开 qǐngqiú líkāi |
| Português | escusar, dispensar |
| Français | excuser |
| Deutsch | sich entschuldigen |
| Italiano | scusare |
| Русский | извиня́ться izvinjátʹsja |
| Tiếng Việt | cho nghỉ |
| العربية | اِعْتَذَرَ iʕtaḏara |
| עברית | שחרר shikhrér |
verb explain with the aim of alleviating guilt or negative judgement
| Español | excusar, disculpar |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 변명하다 byeonmyeonghada |
| 日本語 | 弁明する benmei suru, 言い訳する iiwake suru |
| 中文 | 辯解 /辩解 biànjiě |
| Português | desculpar-se |
| Français | excuser, justifier |
| Deutsch | entschuldigen |
| Italiano | scusarsi, giustificarsi |
| Русский | опра́вдывать oprávdyvatʹ, оправда́ть opravdátʹ |
| עברית | תירץ teréts |
noun explanation designed to avoid or alleviate guilt or negative judgement
| Español | excusa |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 핑계 pinggye, 변명 byeonmyeong |
| 日本語 | 言い訳 iiwake, 口実 kōjitsu, 弁解 benkai, 弁明 benmei |
| 中文 | 藉口 /借口 jièkǒu, 辯解 /辩解 biànjiě |
| हिन्दी | बहाना bahānā |
| Português | desculpa |
| Français | prétexte, excuse |
| Deutsch | Ausrede, Ausflucht |
| Italiano | scusa, pretesto |
| Ελληνικά | δικαιολογία dikaiología |
| Русский | оправда́ние opravdánije, отгово́рка otgovórka, извине́ние izvinénije, предло́г predlóg |
| Tiếng Việt | cớ |
| العربية | عُذْر ʕuḏr |
| עברית | תירוץ, אמתלה, תֵּרוּץ terúts |
Talk about this word "excuse." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/excuse. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. excuse. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/excuse "excuse." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/excuse.Cite this
@misc{excuse_2026,
title = {excuse},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/excuse},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
